Container closure



Filed Oct. 24, 1932 I N V EN TOR fizzwrm. 50

TORNEYS.

WITNESSES Patented Sept. 26, 1933 1,928,4 1'5 commas CLOSURE Albert BiBoyd,Lansdowne, Pa. A man Gama. 1932. Serial Nacsa zss J Jsci ims. ('01.- 221-40) I "This invention relates to container closures, and more particularly to hinged closures for metallic tubes, bottles,.jarsor the like.

' Heretofore numerous attempts have been made to improve the conventional forms'cf stoppers, caps or covers customarily usedto seal the contents of containers. Certain of these devices, such as screw caps, areinconvenient and'ineflicient,

because twohands are requiredto discharge the contents of the container, one hand for holding,

tilting or squeezing the container; and the other hand for unscrewing and holding the cap. The detachable cap is also undesirablebecause of the likelihood of it becoming lost orj misplaced, subjecting the container contents tov the possibility contents of the container. 7 container closures are unsatisfactory because they do not, effectively jsealflthe mouthiof the container. H

The principal object of my invention istoelimi nate' the aforementioneddifficulties by the provision of a closure member,"formin'g part'of, or adapted to'beattached to, a container, which can be manipulated with one hand, and which forms an efiicient, sanitary and, convenient stopper for the mouth of the container. To this end my invention is specifically characterized by a novel form of hinge by which the closure member is joined to a stationary member at the mouth ;of the container.

Other objects and advantages characterizing my invention, including simplicity, neatness and economy of manufacture, will become more fully apparent from the description hereinafter "set jforth of one embodiment or example of the invention, the description having reference to the accompanying drawing, whereof: Fig. I is a side elevation of the discharge end of a container equipped with a closure member embodying my invention, with the closure member in open position.

Fig. II is a sectional View of the same, with the closure member in closed position.

Fig. III is a plan view of the container, with the closure member inopen position; and I Figs. IVand V are perspective views of the stationary member attached to the mouth of the container and the closure member respectively.

, In the drawing I have illustrated an example of my invention as appliedto a conventional form of. metallic container from which tooth-paste;

shaving soap or the like is dispensed. The container is designated at 1, and it includes 'an' externally threaded projection" 2 at the mouth thereof. An internally threaded member '3 'of cylindrical or substantially similar shape, and; a closure member 4 associated therewith, are

detachably fitted to theprojection 2 in the same manner as an ordinary screw cap is customarily fitted to such a container; Though in the selected illustration of my invention the cylindrical member 3 comprises a vseparate'part'from the container 1, detachably fitted thereon, my 1avention also contemplates an arrangement which the cylindrical member, to which the 010 suremember is joined, forms an integral part of the container. 7

The closure member 4 corresponds in outside diameterto that of the cylindrical member 3. Interiorly the closure member 4 is jconfigover the end of the threaded projection 2. For joining the closure member 4'to the cylindrical member 3, there is provided a hinge 5 of rubber or other elastic material. In order. tofpresent ured so that it fits snugly, when in closed position, I

a smooth exterior surface, both 'thecylindrical member "3 andjthe closure member {i arejrecessedp as indicated at 6 in Figs; IV and V, throughout regions of their circumferences. While other means of attaching the hinge 5 may be employed, in the present exampleflat bands 7 extending around the closure member 4 and the cylindrical member 3 are here shown as the means of at- -in Fig. I, when the closure member 4 is in fully open position, the central portion 9 of the hinge is distorted. Being of elastic material, its tendency to recover its original shape urges the closure member 4 toward the mouth of the tube or container 1. I

However, when the closure 4 has been moved to the position shown in Fig. I, the plane of the marginal portions 8 of the hinge 5 is below the pivotal point about which the closure member hinges. Hence the marginal edges 8 of the hinge 5 are in this position so tensioned as to oppose movement of the closure member 4 toward the mouth of the container, counteracting the effeet of the central hinge portion 9. As soon as movement of the closure member 4 in the direction of the mouth of the container is initiated, and the plane of the marginal edges 8 passes the effective pivotal point of the hinge, the marginal edges 8 will have an opposite effect and will tend to snap the closure member 4 shut.

Accordingly it will be apparent that with the special form of hinge described herein, the container 1 is normally sealed tightly with the closure member 4 held thereon by the resistance of the elastic hinge 5, which is preferably placed under initial stress by stretching it before attachment. The resistance to opening of the closure member 4 is due to the property which the marginal edges 8 and the central portion 9 of the hinge 5 possess of maintaining or recovering their original condition. The closure member 4 is readily swung away from the mouth of the container 1 by a finger of the hand which holds the container. As soon as it reaches the fully open position, it is maintained at rest in that position so that it offers no interference to the dispensing ofthe content's. When it is desired to seal the container 1, the initial movement is impartedto the closure member4 by the operators finger whereupon it snaps shut to the original position.

From the above description it will be noted ,that'the closure member of my invention can be operated with-ease and facility'and that it constitutes asanitary and efficient means of sealing the mouth of a container having obvious advantages over the conventional forms of caps and stoppers.

While I havedescribed one particular embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form of the apparatus and its manner of application to a con- ;tainer, and that the invention is applicable to thereof, a closure member adapted to fit over said cylinder member, and a hinge of elastic material attached to said cylindrical member and closure member, the attaching surfaces of said hinge extending sufliciently around the circumferences of said cylindrical member and closure member whereby portions of said hinge serve as tension springs holding the closure member away from the mouth of the container when the closure member is in fully open position, and forcing the closure member toward the mouth of the container when movement in that direction is initiated.

2. In combination with a container having a substantially cylindrical member at the mouth .thereof, a closure member adapted to fit over said cylindrical member, said members being recessed at regions of their exterior surfaces, and a hinge of elastic material attached to said cylindrical member and closure member and fitting in the recessed regions thereof, the attaching surfaces of said hinge extending sufliciently around the circumferences of said cylindrical member and closure member whereby portions of said hinge serve as tension springs holding the closure member away from the mouth of the container when the closure member is in fully open position, and forcing the closure member toward the mouth of thecontainer when movement in that direction is initiated.

3. In combination with a container having an externally threaded projection at the mouth thereof, an internally threaded cylindrical member engaging said projection, a closure member adapted to fit over said cylindrical member to close the mouth of said container, and a hinge of elastic material attached to said cylindrical member and closure member, the attaching surfaces of said hinge extending sufiiciently around the circumferences of said cylindrical member and closure member whereby portions of said hinge serve as tension springs holding the closure member away from the mouth of the container when the closure member is in fully open position, and forcing the closure member toward the mouth of the container when movement in that direction is initiated.

ALBERT B. BOYD. 

